Immigration officers carried out an operation on the Isle of Wight yesterday (Tuesday) visiting several businesses on the Isle of Wight.
They’ve confirmed to OnTheWight this morning that acting on intelligence that a business was employing staff with no right to work in the UK, they visited
Yarmouth Spice, Quay Street, Yarmouth.
Man found hiding behind fridge
A 35-year-old Bangladeshi man was found hiding behind a refrigerator in the kitchen area. He was arrested after it was established he’d overstayed his Visa and was transferred to immigration detention, pending removal from the UK.
The restaurant now faces a potential financial penalty of £20,000 for employing an illegal worker.
Checks need to be proved
It was served a notice warning that a civil penalty of up to £20,000 will be imposed unless proof is provided that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out.
Carla Johnson, head of the South Central Home Office Immigration Enforcement team, said:
“Illegal working cheats the taxpayer and undercuts honest employers, and we treat all allegations extremely seriously.
“It is the employer’s responsibility to check their staff have permission to work in the UK and we are happy to work with those who play by the rules.
“Those who choose not to carry out these checks can expect enforcement visits and financial penalties.”
Image: © With kind permission of Shane Thornton
